Through hard work and dedication, David Mabena went from a cleaner to an Assistant Production Manager.
South Africa (31 March 2022) – David Mabena, whose professional journey began at the tender age of 18, shared the remarkable story of how he progressed from his role as a cleaner to becoming a Manager.
Having always wanted to pursue a career in Production Management, but likewise having had to accept the harsh reality of being unable to receive a tertiary education due to financial constraints, David immediately began his job search as soon as he matriculated in 1995. Through one of his friends, David was informed of job opportunities at McCain and so sent his CV along with his friend in the hopes of securing employment.
A week later, David was invited to his first interview, where he soon after began his role as a cleaner.
With his dream of working in Production Management in clear sight, coupled with his fierce determination to succeed, David understood that his role as a cleaner was a critical opportunity that would allow him to develop the necessary skill set required for him to accomplish his end goal.
As a cleaner, David was based in the processing area, where he proactively sought out growth opportunities. His first step was to ask his former colleague if he could operate the fryer and stand-in when required. Through this simple act, the company’s leadership team recognised David’s potential. David was introduced to the internal development programmes through his constant dedication, commitment, and hard work, which enabled him to complete the Management Development Programme at UNISA and earn a qualification.
After that, David was given an opportunity to work as an Operator, which was the starting point of his upward trajectory. He progressed to Team Leader, Shift Superintendent, Shift Manager, Packing Manager, Senior MDI Coach, and his current position as Assistant Production Manager.
One of David’s most notable achievements throughout his 27 years of employment at McCain was when he was asked by John Allan, former Manufacturing Director, to assist in the opening of a new processing plant in Mehsana, India. However, David acknowledged winning the Resilience Award as his greatest accomplishment, describing it as his most cherished award.
Elaborating on this, David says, “I had a critical medical condition, which brought my life to a standstill for almost four years. With the support of the senior leadership team (current and former plant managers), my family, and all my work colleagues, I became aggressively more resilient, which allowed me to bounce back with renewed vigour.”
Donovan Abrahams, a Plant Manager, supports David’s exemplary professional journey, sharing, “David (or Bova as he is known) is a family man and a well-respected citizen of Delmas. He is devoted when it comes to helping the members of his close family and co-worker. David has shown enormous resilience in bouncing back from health issues and is a true leader when it comes to leading the way, as he knows the way and shows the way forward. He courageously tackles all obstacles, overcoming them in order to achieve his goals while on shift, which landed him the name 100-ton man back in the days when that target of 100 tons seemed unachievable.”
David’s journey is proof that hard work and dedication do pay off.